Seaman killed her husband, Robert, in 2004 by striking him with a hatchet 16 times and stabbing him at least 21 times in their garage in Farmington Hills. The 60-year-old is serving a life sentence.

Prosecutors said Seaman took elaborate steps to cover up her crime including wrapping the body in a tarp, painting walls and bleaching the garage floor where the killing took place.

The appeals court noted that Seaman’s trial attorney presented experts who talked about battered spouse syndrome and had argued for such a defense. The court said the defense is limited under Michigan law.